Perry, White trade blows over officer's death, border security

Perry ad features widow of slain officer; White says incumbent is exploiting her sorrow to paper over his record.

Published 3:45 pm, Monday, October 25, 2010

AUSTIN - The 2006 killing of a Houston police officer by an immigrant in this country illegally took center stage Monday in the race between GOP Gov. Rick Perry and Democrat Bill White.

Perry, in an ad featuring officer Rodney Johnson's widow, is trying to paint White's time as Houston mayor as one that endangered officers' safety in such dealings.

White hit back hard, defending his record and suggesting the ad is a cynical effort to paper over a poor Perry record on border security. He compared it to 2002, when Perry tried to link Democrat Tony Sanchez to drug traffickers who killed a U.S. agent.

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The battle put a spotlight on border security, immigration and law enforcement as White tries to overtake Perry's persistent lead in the polls.

"In the past, Bill White supported sanctuary city policies that made it difficult for officers to do their jobs," Houston Police Sgt. Joslyn Johnson says in the Perry ad, after talking about her husband's killing. "I trust Governor Perry to secure our safety. Bill White had his opportunity as mayor of Houston and he failed."

White - who in response to a previous Perry ad said it was a "complete myth and fabrication" to call Houston a sanctuary city - slammed Perry for featuring Johnson in the ad. He said Perry has failed to get the federal resources necessary to secure the border, didn't provide proper state resources and presided as the names of deported people were removed from a public sex-offender registry.

"Now, to hide that sorry record, he's exploiting shamelessly the grief of a widow in Houston," White said. "As governor, I will have a border security plan that will keep Texas safe."

Reached by telephone, Johnson said she did not believe she was being exploited. "I make my own decisions," she said.

Rodney Johnson was killed by Juan Leonardo Quintero, now serving a life sentence. Johnson, who'd stopped Quintero for speeding, was shot from the rear seat of his patrol car. He had patted down Quintero but didn't find the gun.

White was joined at his news conference by El Paso County Sheriff Richard Wiles; Cpl. Rick Van Houten, president of the Fort Worth Police Officers Association; and Sgt. David Kilcrease, president of the Deputy Sheriff's Association of Bexar County.

Van Houten's and Kilcrease's groups have endorsed White. The Houston Police Officers Union is among those endorsing Perry.

Houston police don't ask about immigration status unless someone is booked into jail, said department spokeswoman Jodi Silva. At that point, a determination is made of whether someone is here illegally, she said.

The Houston Police Officers Union has argued in favor of the ability to question people about their immigration status.

White has compared Houston's policy to that of Texas Department of Public Safety's. DPS spokeswoman Tela Mange said a trooper, in making a stop, doesn't ask a person whether he or she is here legally, adding: "However, once a trooper has a reasonable suspicion that a federal violation has occurred, including immigration, the appropriate federal agency is contacted immediately to take appropriate action."